Morocco and its European partners have initiated a significant new phase in their water resource management cooperation. The Ministry of Equipment and Water, in collaboration with the European Union, Germany, Italy, and France, officially launched an ambitious support program for the National Water Plan (PNE) in Rabat. This comprehensive initiative boasts a total funding package of 3.7 billion dirhams, equivalent to nearly 348 million euros.

The launch ceremony, attended by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and representatives from the European partners, underscored the collaborative spirit. This groundbreaking program is a testament to the “Team Europe” approach, designed to synchronize the efforts of the European Union and its member states on vital strategic projects.

Funding for the program comprises 514.4 million dirhams in grants from the European Union, supplemented by approximately 3.2 billion dirhams in concessional loans. These crucial loans have been secured from three leading European financial institutions: the German development bank KfW, Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), which leads the financial consortium.

The program is specifically designed to bolster Morocco’s national water policy across four key areas: enhancing understanding of water resources in the face of climate change impacts; strengthening the management of extreme weather events like droughts and floods; safeguarding groundwater reserves; and developing the institutional capabilities of stakeholders within the water sector.

A substantial technical assistance component will further support these objectives, fostering the exchange of expertise between Moroccan and European partners.

During his address, Nizar Baraka, the Minister of Equipment and Water, emphasized that water is both a precious heritage to be preserved for future generations and a strategic national sovereignty issue, prioritized at the highest levels of government.

In light of the severe drought episodes affecting the Kingdom, Minister Baraka reiterated Morocco’s proactive stance, highlighting the country’s progressive transformation of its water management model. He affirmed that this new program will significantly enhance Morocco’s resilience against the adverse effects of climate change and ensure sustainable management of its vital water resources.

For the European Union, this initiative clearly demonstrates its commitment to supporting Morocco in the sustainable management of its natural resources. Dimiter Tzantchev, the European Union Ambassador to Morocco, stated that the program aligns perfectly with the priorities of the Morocco-EU Green Partnership and the Pact for the Mediterranean, which place climate resilience and water management at the core of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. He further noted that the “Team Europe” strategy effectively mobilizes complementary financial and technical resources to deliver concrete solutions to shared climate challenges.

Like the entire Mediterranean basin, Morocco faces escalating pressure on its water resources. Between 2017 and 2025, the Kingdom experienced multiple severe droughts, while water demand continuously increased due to demographic growth and economic development.

This new collaborative program thus reinforces ongoing efforts already underway within the framework of the National Water Plan and the National Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation (PNAEPI) 2020-2027.

The ambassadors of Germany, Italy, and France collectively lauded the initiative, anticipating it will serve as a model for regional cooperation.

Germany, through KfW, will concentrate its support on climate change adaptation and the critical protection of groundwater tables. Italy will contribute its specialized expertise in water resource management and champion gender equality within the sector. France, via the AFD, will oversee the effective implementation of the program, integrating crucial aspects of climate resilience and women’s and men’s equality.